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Biomedical subjects

S K Yachha

Publications and source records attributed to S K Yachha.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Results of treatment with endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices in children extrahepatic portal venous obstruction are limited. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken of fifty children (mean age, 7.4 +/- 3.8 years; range, 4 months to 14 years) with esophageal variceal bleeding caused by extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) treated by repeated intravariceal endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) at intervals of 2-3 weeks until eradication (no varices on endoscopy). RESULTS: Eradication of varices was achieved in 44 children (88%) with a mean of eight sessions per child. In six other cases, variceal grade decreased by 50% from the initial grades. Bleeding episodes at presentation were controlled in all of the children with first ET >. Over a mean follow-up period of 19 months (range, 12-36 months), a total of 15 episodes of rebleeding occurred in 13 children (26%) before the third session of EST and all were controlled with EST. Risk of rebleeding in children with eradicated varices (n = 44) significantly decreased from 0.2 episodes per month to nil after eradication. None of the children without eradicated varices had rebleeding. Thus, EST was successful in controlling rebleeding in all of the cases. Recurrence of varices was observed in five children (10%). None of our children either required surgery for EST failure or died. CONCLUSIONS: EST is a safe and effective nonsurgical mode of therapy in controlling esophageal variceal bleeding in children with EHPVO. Significant variceal bleeding did not occur during the relatively short follow-up in this series.

Adolescent

Portal hypertensive gastropathy in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: role of variceal obliteration by endoscopic sclerotherapy and Helicobacter pylori infection.

We aimed to determine the frequency of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) and to find out the role of esophageal variceal obliteration by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in the pathogenesis of PHG. Twenty consecutive children were studied before EIS and 20 after esophageal varices obliteration. Diagnosis of PHG was established by endoscopic assessment. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed by rapid urease test, H. pylori culture, smear, and histopathologic examination of antral biopsy specimens. Portal hypertensive gastropathy was characterized and graded by endoscopy according to previously established criteria. In the pre-EIS group, eight (40%) had PHG (mild in all) compared with 16 (80%; mild in eight, severe in eight) in the post-EIS group (p < 0.05). Portal hypertensive gastropathy was more extensive in the post-EIS group. There was no significant difference between frequency of gastric varices and H. pylori infection in the pre-EIS and post-EIS groups. We conclude that PHG is common in children with EHPVO; its frequency, extent, and severity increase after esophageal variceal obliteration by EIS, and H. pylori infection does not play any role in its development.

Adolescent

Endosonographic evaluation of the rectum in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction.

Rectal endoscopic ultrasonography (REUS) was performed using an Olympus EU-M3 ultrasound fiberscope in 25 children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (median age of 8, range 3-16 years) and in eight control subjects (median age of 8, range 6-13). Rectal varices (tortuous or nodular distended veins seen beneath the mucosa) and portal hypertensive rectopathy were diagnosed endoscopically. At rectal endosonography, rectal varices were seen as rounded, oval, or longitudinal echo-free structures in the submucosa. Perirectal veins outside the rectal wall were also seen in REUS. Portal hypertensive rectopathy was endoscopically observed in nine (36%) patients. Rectal varices were detected by endoscopy in nine (36%) and by endosonographic examination in 19 (76%) patients with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction. The number (2, range 0-10) and size (3, range 0-4.5 mm) of submucosal veins seen on endosonography in patients were greater than in controls (0, range 0-1, and 0, range 0-2 mm; p < 0.001 for both). The size of perirectal veins was greater in patients than in controls (3.5, range 3-5 mm versus 2.5, range 2-3 mm; p < 0.001). Communicating veins between the submucosal and perirectal veins were seen in nine (36%) patients. Rectal endoscopic ultrasonography was superior to endoscopy in detecting the presence of rectal varices (76% versus 35%, p < 0.005). Our study suggests that endosonography is useful in detecting changes in the rectal and perirectal vasculature in patients with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction.

Adolescent

Healing of chronic antral gastritis: effect of sucralfate and colloidal bismuth subcitrate.

BACKGROUND: Colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) causes endoscopic and histological improvement in gastritis and eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). The effect of sucralfate, a cytoprotective drug, on endoscopic and histologic gastritis and H pylori clearance is not clear. We studied the effect of CBS and sucralfate on these features in patients with NUD. METHODS: Sixty three patients with NUD and H pylori infection were randomized to receive one of the following for four weeks: (i) CBS (240 mg twice daily) (Group 1); (ii) placebo I, similar in size, color and shape to CBS (Group 2); (iii) sucralfate (2.0 g twice daily) (Group 3) and (iv) placebo II, similar to sucralfate (Group 4). Symptoms, endoscopic and histological findings and H pylori status were assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Similar symptomatic improvement was observed with each treatment, indicating a placebo effect. Significant endoscopic and histological improvement was observed with CBS only. CBS was better than sucralfate in inducing endoscopic and histological improvement. Clearance rate of H pylori was 46.6% with CBS, 16.6% with its placebo, 33.3% with sucralfate and 13.3% with its placebo. CONCLUSION: CBS is more effective than sucralfate in inducing endoscopic and histologic healing of H pylori-related gastritis among NUD patients.

Adult

Gastrointestinal bleeding in children.

We prospectively evaluated 139 consecutive children presenting to the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Lucknow, India) with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from January 1991 to November 1994. Our aims were to find out whether the causes of GI bleeding in a developing country differed from developed countries and how the application of newer diagnostic techniques would help in the diagnosis of GI bleeding. Barium studies, endoscopy, technetium-99m-labelled (erythrocytes and pertechnetate) scans, selective abdominal angiography using a digital subtraction technique and rectal endoscopic ultrasonography were performed. Upper GI bleeding (n = 75) was variceal in 71 (95%) children (extrahepatic portal venous obstruction in 65, cirrhosis in six) and non-variceal in four (5%) cases (Henoch-Schonlein purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, drug-induced gastric erosions and pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery due to idiopathic chronic calcific pancreatitis). Causes of lower GI bleeding (n = 64) were colitis (27 cases; 42%), colorectal polyps (26 cases; 41%), enteric fever (n = 3), solitary rectal ulcer (n = 3), portal hypertensive colopathy (n = 2), colonic arteriovenous malformation (n = 1) and internal haemorrhoids (n = 1). One patient remained undiagnosed. Angiography performed in four children was diagnostic in two. In one child with massive lower GI bleeding from portal colopathy, the bleeding site (caecum) was localized by intra-operative colonoscopy, while in the other child with portal colopathy, rectal endoscopic ultrasonography was performed to substantiate the diagnosis. We conclude that the causes of upper GI bleeding in children in developing countries are different from those in developed countries (variceal bleeding due to extrahepatic portal venous obstruction is the most common cause, while peptic ulcer is rare). However, the spectrum of lower GI bleeding is similar to that of developed countries. Application of newer diagnostic techniques is helpful and safe in the identification of the cause of GI bleeding in children.

Child

Neonatal cholestasis syndrome: an appraisal at a tertiary center.

OBJECTIVE: To know the magnitude, etiology and clinical profile, the efficacy of various investigations and the outcome in patients with neonatal cholestasis syndrome (NCS). DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of 60 consecutive infants with NCS (mean age 3.9 +/- 1.9 months; 49 males) over a period of 3.5 years. SETTING: Tertiary level referral gastroenterology center in North India. METHODS: Liver function tests, urine examination, serum antibodies against Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rubella and Toxoplasma; abdominal ultrasonography, hepatobiliary scintigraphy and liver biopsy were done. In appropriate setting, laparotomy and surgical corrections were done for biliary tract disorders. RESULTS: NCS constituted 19% of pediatric liver diseases. Considerable delay in presentation was observed [mean delay, extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) = 4 +/- 2.0 months, neonatal hepatitis (NH) = 2.2 +/- 1.3 months]. Thirty three (55%) infants had EHBA, 14 (23%) NH (4 CMV, 2 galactosemia, 1 urinary tract infection and 7 idiopathic), 2 (3%) paucity of intralobular bile ducts and 11 (18%) were of indeterminate etiology. Liver biopsy was the most accurate (96.4%) investigation in discriminating between EHBA and NH. Of the 18 operated infants with EHBA (portoenterostomy-15 and hepatico-jejunostomy-3), 10 were alive (mean follow up = 22.8 +/- 8.6 months) of which 4 were completely asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: (i) NCS is an important cause of liver disease in Indian children. (ii) It requires prompt referral, quick investigative approach and targeted management. (iii) Liver biopsy is highly accurate in differentiating EHBA and NH. (iv) infants with EHBA and compensated status of liver should undergo corrective surgery irrespective of age at presentation.

Biliary Atresia

Endoscopic, histologic and microbiologic evaluation of upper abdominal pain with special reference to Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE: To study children with significant upper abdominal pain of unidentifiable etiology and evaluate: (a) the relationship of pain to inflammatory esophago-gastro-duodenal lesions and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, and (b) the response to specific therapy. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Pediatric section of a tertiary referral gastroenterology center. SUBJECTS: Thirty three consecutive children with significant upper abdominal pain [mean age 9.9 +/- 2.7, range 4-15 years; 20 males] were subjected to upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and antral mucosal biopsies obtained for rapid urease test (RUT), Gram's staining of impression/crush smears and culture for HP and histologic examination. Patients with HP gastritis were treated with triple therapy, colloidal bismuth subcitrate, amoxycillin and metronidazole, for two weeks. At 8 weeks from the initiation of therapy, patients were re-evaluated for symptoms and HP eradication by repeat endoscopy and antral biopsies. Patients with esophagitis, gastritis and duodenitis without HP infection were treated with ranitidine for 6 weeks. All the patients were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: Histology revealed antral gastritis in 28/33 (85%) patients. HP infection was present in 12/28 (43%) patients with antral gastritis. Symptomatic improvement with triple therapy was observed in 10/12 (83%) patients with HP gastritis and eradication of HP in 5/7. Improvement on ranitidine therapy was observed in 12/16 (75%) patients with HP negative gastritis. On follow-up, no patient with initial improvement with therapy had relapse of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic children with HP related gastritis should be treated with triple therapy and HP negative gastritis with H2-receptor antagonist.

Abdominal Pain

Hepatic involvement culminating in cirrhosis in a child with disseminated cryptococcosis.

A 7-year-old child had unusual manifestation of cryptococcosis; liver and lymph node involvement predominated. There was evidence of cryptococcal hepatitis, extrahepatic biliary obstruction, and subsequent cirrhosis of the liver. Despite widespread dissemination, underlying immune disturbance was not evident. The patient was treated with two courses of amphotericin and 5-flucytosine.

Amphotericin B

Calcific pancreatitis-induced gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm: non-surgical management.

Hemorrhage associated with pancreatitis has a high morbidity and mortality in the early phase of the illness. In a small number of patients, bleeding is from major pancreatic or peripancreatic vessels which necessitates emergency intervention. However, most such reports are confined to adults. We report a 6-year-old girl with chronic calcific pancreatitis who presented with hematemesis and melena without any acute exacerbation of her underlying illness. Pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery was detected by angiography which was then effectively treated at the same time by embolization with gel foam and a steel coil, thus obviating the need for surgical intervention.

Aneurysm, False

Epidemiology, subgroups and serotypes of rotavirus diarrhea in north Indian communities.

To know prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea subgroups and serotypes, a prospective study was conducted in rural, periurban and urban communities at Chandigarh. Weekly surveillance for diarrheal episodes was carried out in 110 families each from rural, periurban and urban localities constituting 584 children < 5 years of age from October, 1988 to February, 1991. Stool samples of 218 diarrheal episodes occurring in 115 children were subjected to rotavirus detection by ELISA. Rotavirus positive samples were further analyzed for subgroups and serotypes using specific monoclonal antibodies. Overall prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea was 4.3% (25/584). Rotavirus constituted 11.5% (25/218) of total diarrheal episodes and 22% (25/115) among the children affected with acute diarrhea. Among rural, periurban and urban communities, the overall prevalences of rotavirus diarrhea were 7.3%, 3.2% and 2.3% and episode related prevalences of 31.8%, 7.4% and 5%, respectively (chi 2 test for trend was highly significant from rural to periurban to urban localities). Forty per cent (10/25 of rotavirus positive samples were subgroup I and 60% (15/25) sub-group II. Of the 25 rotavirus strains, 40% (10) were serotype 2, 24% (n = 6) serotype 3 and 36% (n = 9) serotype 4. No definite temporal or seasonal pattern of rotavirus was observed; however, more of rotavirus diarrheal episodes (16%) occurred during winter season. Subgroups and serotypes were observed to cocirculate during the rotavirus episodes. Demonstration of serotypes in our field study imply that the vaccine to be used in our country must be cross protective to have an effective impact on rotavirus infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child, Preschool